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Economists back Strabane as a ‘special case for development’

TWO renowned international economists have lent their weight to the idea that Strabane could become a special case for economic development.

Dr John Bradley, formerly of the Economic and Social Research Institute in Dublin, and Professor Michael Best of University of Massachusetts Lowell and Cambridge University maintain that more must be done to capitalise on national resources for the benefit of border regions.

The proposal is made in the Centre for Cross Border Studies’ report Cross-Border Economic Renewal: Rethinking Regional Policy in Ireland which was funded by the EU INTERREG programme through the Special EU Programmes Body.
“The goal of such a Border Development Zone would be to stimulate a form of development that is uniquely adapted to the region, making maximum use of current ‘national’ resources and stimulating the evolution of local resources and expertise,” Dr Bradley and Professor Best said.